Renal biopsy has made a major contribution to the understanding and management of patients with lupus nephritis. In a 5-year retrospective study the renal morphology of 55 biopsies from 51 patients with lupus nephritis was classified acccrding to World Health Organisation criteria. In addition, semi-quantitative activity and chronicity scores were documented. The findings were similar to series from other parts of the world. Of the biopsies reviewed, 6 were class II, 13 class III, 32 class IV and 4 class V. In situations of overlap, segmental proliferative features determined the class to which a biopsy specimen was assigned. Twenty-five of the patients, all WHO class IV, showed activity scores in the severe range. Most of the activity score features were common and easily recognised but necrotising angiitis was only seen in 1 patient. Haematoxylin bodies were difficult to document and the nature and value of the haematoxylin body is questioned.